The Dark and Lonely Place of the student teacher

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Lets face it. Student teaching can be a hard rock to swallow. Read the Questions and answers below to help you add. Feel free to add! chimpanzee_thinking_poster.jpg

Question: Who can I go to if I am in a jam and am unsure whether I should discuss it with my CT?
  • SOLUTION: First and foremost, you should know that your URI professors are here to help you, not hinder you. If you are ever in a jam and are unsure how to approach your cooperating teacher, seek URI help first. You are not alone and they will probably give you great advice that can help you. It may be comforting to know that if you have made it through at least a month and a half of student teaching without any major problems, you probably will make it till the end. Ask your professors and hopefully they will second this : )

Question: Am I the student or the teacher?
  • SOLUTION: Sometimes it may seem like you have either too much or not enough control of the classroom. This is the "rock" that you must swallow in order to student teach. It is likely that you may not feel that you are get the "help" or "freedom" from your CT that you feel you need to grow and learn as a student teacher. Accept this fact and move on. Even if you want to be the boss, you're not. Instead, try to find help in other ways. Use some teaching sources/ideas that you talked about last semester or that you have wanted to try but haven't. Squeeze them in anywhere you can. You have to start somewhere and as long as you are doing something that you think might benefit your students, this hopefully will give you enough "fuel" to keep on rolling through student teaching.

Question: I already had things planned for this week, but so did my CT!
  • Sometimes it is hard to have good communication between you and your CT. With both your lives and 150+ students, it is hard to stay on track. In some cases, your teacher might give you "material" on top of what you already have or may make you do something different. They may not know what work of your own you have been doing and if they are in "fast-teacher" mode, they probably will not take the time to ask.
    • SOLUTION: Stay organized and don't let your hard work go unnoticed. Words of your URI teacher: If your cooperating teacher gives information to you, but you already had OTHER things planned that you were hoping to teach... solve this overwhelming problem by showing them evidence of your work (via a wikispace calendar or lesson plan summary of the week). Hopefully, this will allow you to take charge of the classroom and do what you need to do. When your CT wants to "add" something to your schedule, you can ask them where they tihnk it will fit in. This way, your CT knows you are working hard and YOU avoid any overwhelming "new content" that you are not prepared for. In addition, ask your teacher for a hard copy of what they expect out of you. This can work both ways and possibly help keep your CT organized : )

Question: My CT talks to me about what needs to be done and what he/she wants during prep period. It is hard to get to the copy machine and get other work done in the period.
  • SOLUTION A: (other URI professor wisdom words) Wear a watch, and be focused and firm at getting what you need to get done during your planning period. State BEFORE you sit down with them, that you have to do X, Y, and Z before XX:XX am. Suggest a weekly meeting (may sound daunting, but effective if utilized) where you can discuss these things. Look dangerous and firm when working, but be kind. They are probably trying to help you.
  • SOLUTION B: Go to a different room during your prep.
  • SOLUTION C: Listen to their ideas, take notes and get that stuff done.
  • SOLUTION D: I've learned that HOMEwork, and lots of it, exists in student teaching. You have to do work outside of school. At least this is what I know. Anyone have any ideas??

As long as you know you are doing the best you can, thats all that you can do.